Charter Time2Voice project brings benefits all round !

Despite the sweltering heat, there was lots of fun and hard work aplenty at the ‘Keep Somerton Park Tidy’ community event held on the Newport housing estate this week, where parents and children rolled up their sleeves, grabbed a litter-picker and worked together to help clean-up their community, whilst earning precious time credits, to be spent on summer activities.

Steve Chamberlain, Project Officer, Keep Wales Tidy said ‘I have been extremely impressed with the enthusiasm of the children and mothers living on the estate, who have turned up in their droves to help their community today! I have been particularly delighted to recruit two litter champions, people who are willing to go that extra mile to keep their local neighbourhood clean and tidy’.

Keep Somerton Park Tidy was arranged as a direct result of Charter Housing working closely with residents to look at how service provision can be improved and in particular, how the problem of estate litter and fly-tipping could be addressed. The event also enabled staff to obtain feedback from residents on the Welsh Government’s recent Fly Tipping consultation. All residents and children involved were rewarded with time credits via the Time2Voice project operated by Charter, which can be exchanged for a wide range of activities.

The event was organised by a group of four residents who feel passionate about their community, and who took responsibility for involving key partner agencies such as Keep Wales Tidy and RSPB, advertised the event and securred donations from organisations such as Morrisons, Sunnyside Nurseries and Frankie and Bennies.

Ras James, Charter Time2Voice Co-ordinator said “Great efforts from some of our tenants went into organising this event. It was great to see the community come together, get involved in the litter pick and show such enthusiasm for voicing their opinions about fly tipping, and in return for all their hard work, the adults and children were able to earn time credits, which I understand they wish to spend at Heatherton Park! It wasn’t all just hard work, with a bouncy castle and a visit from the local fire service, the children had a thoroughly enjoyable yet highly productive afternoon. Overall it was a great day ”

Time2Voice creates opportunities for tenants to have an influence over the development and delivery of local services by giving their views and opinions in helping to improve services within their community. In return for their time, tenants earn ‘time credits’ for the time they spend getting involved helping to improve services that have an impact on them or their community.

As a result of their successful application for funding, Newport City Council’s Environmental Health team were also on hand to clear the lane of fly-tipping which had severely built up over a period of time.

Councillor Ken Critchley, Lliswerry Ward member was delighted to be invited to the event and said ‘I totally support this type of approach, working with the community in this way is definitely the way forward. It has been lovely to see the passion and dedication of all the children and parents not to forget the enthusiasm of the staff involved, who have helped to make this happen.’